American Council for Fitness and Nutrition Honors the Oklahoma REACH 2010 Program

The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) along with the National Association for Health and Fitness will recognize the Oklahoma REACH 2010 Project for leading the way in Native American communities in the fight against obesity and raising awareness about health disparities. The awards event will be held Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Renaissance Oklahoma City Convention Center Hotel, located at 10 N. Broadway, in Oklahoma City.

According to public health officials at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Chronic Disease Service, the REACH 2010 Project focuses on American Indian health in Oklahoma. The strength of the program is in providing tribal communities with information and resources to help them develop their own approaches to reduce heart disease and diabetes. Some of the successful outcomes of the project thus far include: an increase in staff who are trained in physical fitness in each of the tribal communities, increased access to physical activity opportunities, tribal worksite policies encouraging physical activity, a successful state/tribal collaboration, and an overall decrease in body mass index among participating adults.

“We are excited that the ACFN is recognizing the Oklahoma REACH 2010 Project as an exceptional program. Through this program we have been able to build new partnerships, expand established ones, and open the door to better understanding of cultural differences that impact diet, nutrition and health care,” said Dr. Janis Campbell, principal investigator for the project.

For more information about the Oklahoma REACH 2010 Project, contact the OSDH Chronic Disease Service, Tribal Program Consultant Mary Massey-Douglas at 405/271-4072 or view this Web site: www.health.state.ok.us/program/cds/reach.html.